Building apparatus



July 16; 1929 "REM. ADAM 1,720,987

BUILDING APPARATUS Filed Apg. 1 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lZ'nz/enior: RoberM Jul 16, 1929.

R. ADAM BUILDIbfG APPARATUS Filed Aug. 13, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 16, 1929.

ROBERT M. ADAM, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, .AS$IGNOR TO JOHN H. MC- CLATCI-IY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

BUILDING APPARATUS.

Application filed August 13, 1923. Serial No. 657,194.

My invention relates to improvements in building apparatus and has to do, more particularly, with apparatus for use in laying brick, concrete block, stone, or the like, in erecting buildings or walls.

Heretofore, the laying of brick, concrete block, and the like, in erecting buildings and walls, has been a job for highly skilled workmen. The frequent use of plumb line and level has'been necessary in order to keep the wall truly vertical and the courses straight. This has rendered the work slow andexpensive. The chief object of my invention is to provide an apparatus by the use of which an unskilled workman can erect walls or buildings and lay concrete blocks or bricks so as to form walls which will be perfectly true, and plumb, without the frequent use of plumb line and level as in the past. It is the object of myv invention to provide an apparatus which-will reduce very much the cost of erecting walls or buildings 'of' brick, concrete block, or the like, by permitting the use of unskilled and inexpensive labor and reducing the time necessary for construction. Afurtherobject of my inventionis to provide an apparatus of this naturewhich is simple and easy to erect and take down, so that'it can be moved very readily from one 7 job to another. A further object of my in- I lowered. Afurther object of my invention is'to providean apparatus of this character wallsof a building, and means for raising them simultaneously from a, common point while maintaining them all level and in" plumb. 7 I

Further objects, and objects relating to details and economies of construction and operation, will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow. In one instance, I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification. My invention 1s clearly defined and pointed out in the appended claims. A structure constituting a preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing my building appartaus in operative relation to a building erected by it. I

Fig. 2 is a vertical, sectional view through the apparatus and one wall of the building, taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, the side of the jack being broken away to show the pawls and their engagement with the rack.

' Fig. 3 is a detail, sectional view taken at the corner of the building on the line 33 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is a detail, sectional view taken on the line M of Fig. 2.

In the drawings, the same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the several views and the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the arrows at the ends of the section lines.

In general, my invention consists .in a framework, which is erected on the site of the wall or building to be erected, and a straightedgecarried by the framework in such a waythat it can be raised or lowered, as required.

This straight-edge has a surface against.

which the bricks or blocks are laid and which insures their being set truly vertical or plumb, and an edge which constitutes a horizontal guide so that the course may be kept level. he framework is to be trued and leveled when erected and the straight-edge is so mounted on the framework that it is kept level and plumb notwithstanding the raising and lower'ig movements imparted to it. It is desirable that both ends of the straightedge be raised or lowered equal distances, simultaneously, and I propose to accomplish this by providing a shaft, or its equivalent, carried by the straight-edge, and having pinions fixed to it which mesh with vertical racks forming a part of the framework. I propose to move the straight-edge vertically by means of a toothedr'ack forming a part of the framework with which the pawls of a lifting jack fastened to the straight-edge engage. The jack may be of any suitable construction.

This apparatus may be used for erecting buildings and, in such case, I propose to erect a frame alongside each wall of the'buildi'ng and to provide a straight-edge for each wall. These several straight-edges may be connected and, in order to cause them to move together, I propose to provide the shafts of the respective straight-edges with inter-meshing pinions so that the shafts are forced to turn together when any one of the straight-edges is raised or lowe ed. This permits me to raise them all from a common point. r

The apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawings constitutes an embodiment of my invention which I have found to work very satisfactorily and which I will now describe in greater detail. Referring to the numbered parts of the drawmgal have shown a framework consisting of the'lower, horizontal, angle member, 10, the vertical channels, 11, and the upper, horizontal, an-,

gle member, 12. These horizontal and vertical members are rigidly connected to form the framework of the apparatus. T his framework is erected so that the channel members,

11, are truly vertical and it may be braced and sustained in erected position by the braces, 18. This framework is erected alongside the wall to be constructed and, in the case of a building having severalwalls, aframe of this sort is erected alongside each wall. In Fig.

1, I have shown two walls of a building, at

right angles to each other, and one of these frames erected alongside each wall. The straight-edge is supported by the framework I in such a way that it can beraised and lowered and that it is maintained level and plumb by l the framework. In the construction illustratcarry rollers, '1 3acent channel, 11.

tends outside of the channels, 11, as shown in Fig.1. Collars, 31, may be fastened adj USt ably to the shaft, 16, on either side of the bearings,.1l', to prevent longitudinal shifting of the shaft. Pinions, 18, are lined on the shaft, 16,'and mesh with vertical racks, 15, which are "rigidly fastei'iedto the vertical channels, 11, ofthe'frame, 1n order-to facilitate VGltlCttl movement of the straight-edge, 1 1, on the channels, 11, I provide the brackets, 21, which are fastened to the straight-edge, 14;, and

22, engaging the base of thead- In order to raise and lower the straightedge, I provide the vertical. rack, 23, having ratchet teeth arranged with the bases of the teeth nppermost. The upper end of the rack,

Q 23, is fastened to tlieupper horizontal member, 12, and the lower end to the horizontal member,10, so that it constitutes a part of the frame' A lifting jack, 2 1, is fastened to the "channel, 14, upside'down, that is, witlrthe base of the jack uppermost, and the rack, 23,

extends through this jack in the place of the rack usually found'in lifting acks. The pawl mechanism of the jack cooperates. with the teeth of said'rack and consists of the lifting pawl, 27, pivoted on the operating lever, 25, at

26, and the holding pawl, 28, pivoted on the- 'ack casin at 29., Areversin lever 30 is t D7 b 7 7 provided which is used to change the action 2 of the pawl mechanism from to low be of the usual well known constructionand,

therefore, I do not describe it in greater de tail here. t is to be noted that the rack, 23', is fixed, while the ack casing, 24, is movable with the channel, 14, and, therefore, when frames, "abut each other and are fastened c0 gether by the bolts, 20. Bevel pinions, 19,. I

are rigidly fastened on, the adjacent ends of the shafts, 16, and mesh with each other so that both shafts are caused to turn as one,

As a result, if any one ofthe several chan-' nels, 1a, is moved vertically, the other ehannels l-l, are forced to move with itso that all'of the straight-edges are moved simultaneously and are maintained'perfectly level and plumb. I J 1 In usingvmy apparatus for erecting abuilding such as shown in V Fig; 1, the straightedges, 14, are lowered to their lowermost posi-s tion. The framework, of course, hasbeen trued up so that the vertical 'ehannels, .1'1', are perfectly plumb. The reversing lever,

30, ofthc jack, 24, is set so thatthe aek will be lifted as the handle is 'op'erated. The

blocks, A, of the first courseare laid up against the straight-edges. The channelsfl l, have comparativelybroad bases which are maintainedvertical-by the channels,.11. Byv

laying the blocks flushagainst the base of the channel, 14', the eourse'is kept in plumb.

The upper edge of the channel, 14, constitutes a guide or gauge and byjl'ayin'g or setting: the v blocks, A, so that their. upper surfaces are flush with the upper edge of the-"channel, the

course is kept level. From time to time, the operator, by working thehandleo'r lever, 25,

of the j'ack,'24, "raises thestraight-edgesto bring them into position to fornila guide or gauge for the next course tobe laid. The

straight-edges are connected. s ofithat they move vertically simultaneously and they are 7 raised from the single a'ck; -Th'is raising. may be done by the workman from the sca'f-f fold on which hei's at work,thuseXpediting the work-since it is 'no'tne'cessa ryto descend adjusted at the start of a fresh: course; Vertical movement is imparted to? the connected stra'iglit edges by the jack," 24; and all parts a) the ground each time the apparatus is to be 75 ering, and vice versa. This lifting ack may r tical movement of channel, 14, at each of the several racks, 15. Thelifting jackor pawl mechanism furnishes a cheap, simple and convenient means for raising and lowering the straight-edges but other means may be used for accomplishing this.

I may use my apparatus arranged on three sides of a square building and, in this case,

it consists ofthree frames each carrying a ver tically-movable straight-edge, the three straight-edges being connected so as to be moved together from a common source of power. In Fig. 1, two sides of-such an arrangement are shown. My invention is applicable to the construction of straight walls andalso buildings of different shape from that shown. It will be evident that, if the walls of the building to be erected are not at right angles to each other, the frames and straight-edges Wlll be arranged at the proper angle and suitable means provided for transmitting equal rotative motion from the one shaft to the other.

is so simple that it will not be in the way of or interfere with the workmen and it can be moved very readily from one job to another;

1 am aware that the building apparatus shown may be changed considerably without departing from the spirit 'of my invention 1 and, therefore, I claim my invention broadly,

as indicated by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: i

' 1. An apparatus of the class described comprising a. frame to be erected alongside the 1 wall. to be built, a horizontal beam slidably mounted on said frame, means engaging said beam atasingle polnt for moving the same vertically, and means for maintaining said beam horizontal during such vertical movements. 7 p

2. An apparatus of the class described comprising a frame to be erected alongside the wall to be built and including a plurality of vertical racks, a horizontal channel slidably mounted on said frame with its open side toward the frame, a shaft journalcd on said channel and extending on the opposite side of said frame from said channel, pinions fixed on said shaft and each meshing with one of said racks, and means for raising and lowering said channel.

3. An apparatus of the class described comprising a frame to be erected alongside the wall to be built, a vertical rack secured to said frame, a horizontal straight-edge slidably mounted on said frame, a lifting jack fastened to said straight-edge with its pawls engaging said rack, and means for insuring equa vertical movement of all parts of said straight-edge as said jack is operated.

at. An apparatus of the class described comprising a frame to be erected alongside the wall to be built, a vertical rack secured to said frame and having ratchet teeth, a horizontal straight-edge slidably mounted on said frame, a lifting jack fastened to said straight edge with its pawls engaging the ratchet teeth of said rack, a shaft journaled on said straight-edge, a plurality of pinions fixed on said shaft, and a plurality of vertical racks fastened to said frame and meshing with said pinions.

5. An apparatus of the class described com prising a plurality of frames to be erected alongside the walls of a building to be constructed, a horizontal straight-edge slidably mounted on each frame, means for connecting the several straight-edges so that they will move vertically together, and means for raising and lowering'said straight-edges simultaneously from a single point.

' 6. An apparatus of the class described comprising a plurality of frames to be erected alongside the walls of a building to be constructed, a horizontal straight-edge slidably mounted on each frame, means for connecting said straight-edges together so that they will move as one, means for raising and lowering said straight-edges from a single point, and means for maintaining the straight-edges horizontal during such movement.

7. An apparatus of the class described comprising a plurality of frames to be erected alongside the walls of a building to be constructed, a horizontal straight-edge slidably .m'ounted on each of the frames, a shaftjournaled on each straight-edge, vertical racks secured to said frames, pinions fixed on said shafts and meshing with said racks, meshing bevel pinions fixed on adjacent ends of said shafts, and means for raising and lowering said straight-edges.

8. An apparatus of the class described comprising a plurality of frames to be erected alon side the walls of a buildin to be constructed, a horizontalstra-ight-edge slidably mounted on each frame, means connecting adjacent ends of said straight-edges so that mounted on each frame, a shaft journaled on each straight-edge, pinions fixed on said shafts, vertical racks secured to said frames and meshing with said pinions, means connecting said shafts so that they turn as one,

rack.

and means for raising and lowering said straight-edges from a single point.

10. An apparatus of the class described comprising a plurality of frames to be erected alongside the Walls of a building to be constructed, a horizontalstraight-edge slidably mounted on each frame, a shaft journaled on each straight-edge, pinions fixed on said shafts, a plurality of Vertical racks secured to said frames and meshing Withsaid pinions, means connecting adjacent ends of said shafts whereby theyturn as one, a vertical rack secured to one of said frames, and a lift-v ing 1' ack fastened to one of said straight-edges Withits PELVViS engaging said last mentioned In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

' ROBERT ADAM; 

